Electromechanical safety for weapons, and weapon provided with the same

ABSTRACT

An electromechanical safety for weapons ( 1 ), provided with a mechanical safety device, includes a base electronic unit, actuating an electromechanical transducer ( 2 ) acting on the safety mechanical device, and a transponder ( 5 ), the base unit providing a central control and processing unit, connected with a transceiver unit ( 4 ), continuously transmitting an enquiry signal, able to talk with the transponder ( 5 ), when the latter is within the transmission range of the transceiver unit ( 4 ), the transponder ( 5 ) having no power supply and receiving the power necessary to its operation from the signal transmitted by the transceiver unit ( 4 ), said at least one transponder ( 5 ) transmits, an identification code and the base unit actuates the electromechanical transducer ( 2 ) in such a way to release the safety mechanical device when receives an identification code corresponding to a code stored in the base unit and actuating the electromechanical transducer ( 2 ) in such a way to insert the safety mechanical device as soon as the base unit no more receives the identification code.

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromechanical safety forweapons, and to a weapon provided with the same.

[0002] More specifically, the electromechanical safety allows, on thebasis of the recognition of a specific code, the fast insertion orreleasing of a safety, thus being easily usable, highly reliable andefficient.

[0003] It is known that present weapons are provided with safety devicesallowing their controlled use. Particularly for personal use weapons,either for private citizens or for police, it is provided the use ofmechanical safeties that, when inserted, disable its operation. Usually,to insert or release said mechanical safeties it is necessary for theuser to apply a remarkable force on elements having reduced dimensions,said force being equal to the force necessary to the displacement of amass of some hundreds grams, in order to prevent an accidental operationand to prevent the children from releasing said safeties.

[0004] However, said mechanical safeties have some drawbacks.

[0005] First of all, cases of accidental operation of the mechanicalsafeties can always occur, even if they are rare.

[0006] Further, also children can sometimes operate the safeties, thuscausing very dangerous situations.

[0007] Finally, present fast operation mechanical safeties do notprevent their releasing by a user different from the authorised owner.This creates very dangerous situations, e.g. in case of fight betweenthe weapon owner and an aggressor, for example during the standardpolice activity, when the weapon, slipping out of the owner policeman,can be taken and used by the aggressor against the same policeman.Similar situations occur, for example, in case of a theft in the houseof a weapon owner, or in case of unauthorised appropriation of theweapon by a parent or acquaintance of the owner.

[0008] Solutions providing the adoption of mechanical safeties of thelock kind, are not very useful since their operation is extremely slowand do not solve the mentioned drawbacks with respect to a fight betweenthe owner and the aggressor.

[0009] In this situation, it is included the solution suggestedaccording to the present invention, allowing to reduce all the abovementioned problems.

[0010] Therefore, it is object of the present invention to allow in asimple, reliable and efficient way the fast insertion and releasing of aweapon safety, the releasing being allowed only to authorised users.

[0011] It is therefore specific object of the present invention anelectromechanical safety for weapons, provided with a mechanical safetydevice, comprising a base electronic unit, actuating anelectromechanical transducer acting on the safety mechanical device, andat least a transmitter-responder, or transponder, the base unitproviding a central control and processing unit, preferably comprising amicroprocessor, connected with a transceiver unit, continuouslytransmitting an enquiry signal, able to talk with said at least onetransponder, when the latter is in the transmission range of thetransceiver unit, said at least one transponder having no power supplyand receiving the power necessary to its operation from the signaltransmitted by the transceiver unit, said at least one transpondertransmitting, when supplied, an identification code, the base unitactuating the electromechanical transducer in such a way to release thesafety mechanical device when receives an identification codecorresponding to a code stored in the base unit and actuating theelectromechanical transducer in such a way to insert the safetymechanical device as soon as the base unit no more receives saididentification code.

[0012] Preferably, according to the invention, the electromechanicaltransducer comprises a ratio-motor, operated by the base unit,interacting with a mechanical reduction gear acting on the safetymechanical device by a shaped cam movable between two limit positions,corresponding to the insertion and the releasing of the mechanicalsafety device, said two limit positions being respectively revealed bytwo corresponding limit microswitches disabling the supply of theratio-motor.

[0013] Always according to the invention, the base electronic unit canbe also provided with one or more supply batteries, preferablyrechargeable batteries.

[0014] Still according to the invention, the base electronic unit can befurther provided with acoustic and/or visual signalling devices,preferably with a light signalling device comprising one or more lightemitting diodes, or LED.

[0015] Preferably, according to the invention, the transmission range ofthe transceiver unit has a maximum extension not larger than 15 cm.

[0016] It is further object of the present invention a weapon providingsaid electromechanical safety.

[0017] Further features and embodiments of the invention are describedin the depending claims.

[0018] The present invention will be now described, for illustrative butnot limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, withparticular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a partial lateral view, with the inner elements that arevisible, of a gun provided with a safety according to the invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of communication electroniccircuits of a safety according to the invention; and

[0021]FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the mechanicaltransducer of the safety device of FIG. 1.

[0022] The electromechanical safety according to the invention allowsthe recognition of an authorised user of the weapon on which it isprovided. Said authorised user is identified by recognising anidentification code allowing the releasing of a standard mechanicalsafety device, usually comprised of a lever. Said mechanical device canbe provided on the hammer, on the trigger or on any other element of theweapon able to disable its operation. Safety provides an electroniccircuitry, operating an electromechanical transducer acting on themechanical safety device, realising a passive radiofrequencycommunication between a base unit and a transmitter-responder, ortransponder, without power supply, receiving the necessary power for itsoperation directly from the base unit and talking with the latter,providing its identification code.

[0023] Making reference to FIG. 1, concerning the application of apreferred embodiment of the safety according to the invention on a gun1, that is only partially shown, it can be noted that the safetyaccording to the invention comprises an electromechanical transducer 2,operating on a standard safety mechanical device, not shown, by a shapedcam 23, movable between two limit positions: a first positioncorresponding to the insertion of the mechanical safety device, and asecond limit position, in correspondence of which the cam 23 is shown inFIG. 1, corresponding to the insertion of the safety mechanical device.

[0024] Making reference to FIG. 2, electromechanical transducer 2 isoperated by the base unit, provided with a microprocessor, not shown,connected with a transceiver unit 4, when the base unit recognises theidentification code received from a transponder 5 as a code authorisedto the releasing of the safety mechanical device. Base unit is alsoprovided with one or more supply batteries, not shown, preferablyrechargeable, still more preferably nickel-metal hydride batteries, witha power switch, not shown, and with a light signalling device,comprising one or more light. emitting diodes, or LED, preferably with aplurality of colours, not shown as well. In the preferred embodiment,the base unit is housed within the gunstock 6 of the gun 1 and isprovided with a single three colour LED. Preferably, the base unit iscomprised of surface mounting components.

[0025] The transceiver unit 4 of the base unit provides an antenna 7connected with a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit.

[0026] The transmitter circuit comprises an encoder 8, receiving thesignal to be transmitted by the microprocessor, the signal of which ismixed with the carrier wave, generated by an oscillator 9, in amodulator 10, the output signal of which is filtered by a low frequencyblocking capacitor 11. In the preferred embodiment, the oscillator 9generates a carrier wave having a frequency of 125 kHz.

[0027] The receiver circuit comprises a demodulator 12, tuned to thefrequency of the carrier wave of the receive signal, which provides themodulating signal to a decoder 13 that sends the received code to themicroprocessor.

[0028] The base unit talks with a transponder 5 comprising a resonantcircuit 14, operating as transceiver antenna, and an electronicallyerasable and programmable read only memory unit 15, or EEPROM, whereinan identification code is stored. In the preferred embodiment, theEEPROM unit 15 has a capacity of 128 byte. Transponder 5 furthercomprises a contactless interface 16 that, exploiting the power of thesignal received from the resonant circuit 14, acts as power supply forthe transponder 5, provides the clock signal, which imposes theoperation timing of the devices of the transponder 5, and operates as asignal modulator and demodulator. Lastly, the transponder comprises aunit 17 for controlling the access to the EEPROM unit 15, in order tocarry out the reading and/or writing operations of the latter.Transponder 5 is advantageously inserted in a glove or, preferably, in aring that can be put on by the gun 1 owner.

[0029] Base unit continuously transmits an enquiry signal in theenvironment surrounding the antenna 7. When the owner, wearing said ringor glove, holds the gun 1, transponder 5 enters within the transmissionrange of the base unit and transmits the identification code stored inthe EEPROM unit 15. The microprocessor of the base unit analyses andrecognises said code, actuating the electromechanical transducer 2, thatreleases the mechanical safety device of the gun 1, enabling itsoperation.

[0030] The base unit continuously enquiries the transponder 5 in such away that, in case the latter is far from the transmission range of thebase unit and can no more communicate with the former, the base unitactuates the electromechanical transducer 2, in such a way to reinstatethe safety mechanical device.

[0031] One of the drawbacks that has been solved in realising theelectromechanical safety according to the invention is that of limitingthe consumption of the power necessary to release and to insert thesafety mechanical device.

[0032] In fact, most diffused technology for this kind of uses providesan electromagnet excluding the safety mechanical device which is able tomake a sufficient mechanical traction, corresponding to the tractionnecessary to displace a mass of some hundreds grams (usually 350 grams).Since the electromagnet requires a high current absorption, its useproduces a fast discharge of the supply batteries of the base unit, thusmaking completely unreliable the safety of the gun 1.

[0033] Making reference to FIG. 3, electromechanical transducer 2 usedin the electromechanical safety device according to the inventioncomprises a ratio-motor 18, actuated by the base unit, interacting witha mechanical reduction gear 19, operating on the safety mechanicaldevice, not shown, by the shaped cam 23 movable between two limitpositions.

[0034] Particularly, mechanical reduction gear 19 comprises a body 24,within which the assembly comprised of a cylinder 25 and of a littlecylinder 27 slides, said cylinder 25 having a special screw 26 screwedthereon, said screw 26 having threaded head 26′ and axial stem 26″, saidlittle cylinder 27 having the point of the stem 26″ partially insertedthereinto, said point being blocked by a first stop screw or grain 28.On the other side of the little cylinder 27, with respect to the stem26″, the slidable shaft 29 of the ratio-motor 18 is inserted, the latterbeing locked by a second grain 28′; ratio-motor 18 is blocked in itsposition by the screw 30. A pin 3 and a pin 31 are screwed, orthogonallywith respect to one another, on the outer wall of the cylinder 25, andare movable within relevant slots 20 and 32 (slot 32 can be seen inbroken line in FIG. 1); in this way, pin 3 and pin 31 are integral withthe slidable shaft 29 of the ratio-motor 18. Shaped cam 23, rotatingabout the fulcrum 33, interacts with the pin 31, in such a way to act asa lever, at the end of the arm of which a roll 34 is fixed, thatoperates on the standard safety mechanical device, not shown.

[0035] Pin 3 is movable within the slot 20 between a first limitposition, in correspondence of which, in FIG. 1, the pin is shown inbroken line and indicated by the reference number 3′, corresponding tothe insertion of the safety mechanical device, and a second limitposition, in correspondence of which, in FIG. 1, pin 3 is shown in solidline, corresponding to the releasing of the safety mechanical device.Said two limit positions are revealed by two corresponding limitmicroswitches, respectively indicated by reference numbers 21 and 22,disabling the supply of the ratio-motor 18.

[0036] Ratio-motor 18 preferably is a DC micro-motor, or a steppermicro-motor, or a rotative transducer.

[0037] Electromechanical transducer 2 allows to supply the ratio-motor18 only for a very short time, thus prolonging the life time of thebatteries that are constantly used only to provide the low supplycurrent of the electronic devices of the base unit, just for few tensmilliamperes. Preferably, electronic devices of the base unit aresupplied with a voltage of 5 Volts.

[0038] In order to better understand the present invention, in thefollowing operation modes of the preferred embodiment of theelectromechanical safety are described, similar modes being valid alsofor other embodiments.

[0039] When the base unit is activated by turning on the power switch,the microprocessor carries out a control test of the proper operation ofthe devices, turns on the signalling LED with a first colour and startstransmitting an enquiry signal.

[0040] When the base unit recognises the identfication code receivedfrom an authorised transponder 5, the microprocessor changes LED colourand actuates the micro-reduction gear 18 that, by the mechanicalreduction gear 19, will release the standard safety mechanical device,thus enabling the gun to shot.

[0041] Until the transponder 5 remains within the transmission range ofthe base unit, gun 1 is activated and ready to shot.

[0042] When transponder 5 moves away from the base unit, until exitingfrom the transmission range, the base unit no more reads the authorisedcode and the microprocessor actuates the micro-reduction gear 18, makingit rotating according to an opposite direction and reinstating thesafety mechanical device.

[0043] When transponder 5 is within the transmission range of the baseunit, even if the power switch is turned off, base unit does not turnoff, since it could erroneously remain armed. Only when transponder 5 ismoved away, micro-reduction gear 18 is operated in such a way toreinstate the safety mechanical device; to release it again, the powerswitch must be turned on and transponder 5 must move to the base unit.

[0044] In order to allow both the use of more than one transponder 5,having different codes for the same weapon, thus enabling more users,and the use of a single transponder 5 to release the safeties of moreweapons, the base unit is able to learn more than one authorisedidentification code, preferably twenty codes. Particularly, thepreferred embodiment of the electromechanical safety according to theinvention provides a suitable programming transponder that, placedwithin the transmission range of the base unit, transmits a suitablelearning code. The base unit, once received this code, remains waitingthe new identification code to be stored, that is transmitted by thecorresponding transponder 5 of the new user. The occurred storing of thenew code is indicated by the LED, preferably by flashing.

[0045] In order to delete the stored codes from the base unit, thepreferred embodiment of the electromechanical safety according to theinvention provides a suitable cancellation transponder that, placedwithin the transmission range of the base unit, transmits a suitablecancellation code. Also the occurred cancellation of the memorised codesfrom the base unit is signalled by the LED.

[0046] The programming transponder and the cancellation transponderpreferably have the shape of a PVV isocard or small PVC disk.

[0047] Steps described in the preceding for the programming andcancellation of the codes can also be carried out by one or moremicroswitches, to be maneuvered within the weapon.

[0048] The preferred embodiment of the electromechanical safetyaccording to the invention provides that the batteries can be directlyrecharged within the weapon by a connector.

[0049] Preferably, the charge level of the batteries is continuouslychecked by the microprocessor and indicated by the LED. In order toprevent that, when the complete discharge of the batteries occurs, theweapon remains armed, the microprocessor activates a self-turning offcircuit when it detects that the voltage of the batteries falls to athreshold value still sufficient for the operation of the base unit andof the mechanical transducer 2. Said self-turning off circuit actuatesthe micro-reduction gear 18 in such a way to reinsert the mechanicalsafety device, and then turns the base unit off.

[0050] The base unit can be also installed in different positions withrespect to the one described, corresponding to the gunstock of the gun1, taking into consideration also the possible use on different weapons,such as rifles or machine-guns.

[0051] Electromechanical safety according to the present invention canalso be provided on already existing weapons.

[0052] For illustrative, but not limitative purposes, in case of a gun,it is possible to install a housing for the batteries under the barrel,eventually along with a tracking laser, while in a grip of the handlethe base unit can be provided and in the other grip of the handle it canbe provided the electromechanical transducer 2.

[0053] Mounting of the electromechanical safety can be easily carriedout dismounting the original grips of the handle and replacing them withthose respectively housing the base unit and the electromechanicaltransducer 2.

[0054] The present invention has been described for illustrative but notlimitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it isto be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced bythose skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope asdefined in the enclosed claims.

1. Electromechanical safety for weapons (1), provided with a mechanicalsafety device, comprising a base electronic unit, actuating anelectromechanical transducer (2) acting on the safety mechanical device,and at least a transmitter-responder, or transponder (5), the base unitproviding a central control and processing unit, connected with atransceiver unit(4), continuously transmitting an enquiry signal, ableto talk with said at least one transponder (5), when the latter iswithin the transmission range of the transceiver unit (4), said at leastone transponder (5) having no power supply and receiving the powernecessary to its operation from the signal transmitted by thetransceiver unit (4), said at least one transponder (5) transmitting,when supplied, an identification code, the base unit actuating theelectromechanical transducer (2) in such a way to release the safetymechanical device when receives an identification code corresponding toa code stored into the base unit and actuating the electromechanicaltransducer (2) in such a way to insert the safety mechanical device assoon as the base unit no more receives said identification code. 2.Safety according to claim 1, characterised in that the electromechanicaltransducer (2) comprises a ratio-motor (18), operated by the base unit,interacting with a mechanical reduction gear (19) acting on the safetymechanical device by a shaped cam (23) movable between two limitpositions, corresponding to the insertion and the releasing of themechanical safety device, said two limit positions being respectivelyrevealed by two corresponding limit microswitches (21, 22) disabling thesupply of the ratio-motor (18).
 3. Safety according to claim 2,characterised in that the ratio-motor (18) is a DC micro-motor, or astepper micro-motor, or a rotative transducer.
 4. Safety according toanyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the baseelectronic unit is provided with one or more supply batteries.
 5. Safetyaccording to claim 4, characterised in that said one or more batteriesare rechargeable batteries.
 6. Safety according to claim 4 or 5,characterised in that the charge level of the batteries is checked bythe control and processing central unit in such a way that, in case thesafety mechanical device is released and the voltage of the batteriesfalls to a threshold level still sufficient for the operation of thebase unit and of the electromechanical transducer (2), said central unitactivates a self-turning off circuit actuating the electromechanicaltransducer (2), so as to reinstate the safety mechanical device and thenturns the base electronic unit off.
 7. Safety according to anyone of thepreceding claims, characterised in that the base electronic unit isfurther provided with acoustic and/or visual signalling devices. 8.Safety according to claim 7, characterised in that said signallingdevices provide a light signalling device comprising one or more lightemitting diodes, or LED.
 9. Safety according to anyone of the precedingclaims, characterised in that the transceiver unit (4) of the base unitprovides an antenna (7) connected with a transmitter circuit and areceiver circuit, the transmitter circuit comprising an encoder (8),receiving the signals to be transmitted by said control and processingunit, the signal of which is mixed with the carrier wave, generated byan oscillator (9), in a modulator (10), the output signal of which isfiltered by a low frequency blocking capacitor (11), the receivercircuit comprising a demodulator (12), providing the modulating signalto a decoder (13), that sends the received code to said control andprocessing unit.
 10. Safety according to claim 9, characterised in thatthe oscillator (9) generates a carrier wave having a frequency of 125kHz.
 11. Safety according to anyone of the preceding claims,characterised in that the base electric unit is comprised of surfacemounting components.
 12. Safety according to anyone of the precedingclaims, characterised in that the transmission range of the transceiverunit (4) has a maximum extension not larger than 15 cm.
 13. Safetyaccording to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that saidat least one transponder (5) comprises a resonant circuit (14),operating as transceiver antenna, an electronically erasable andprogrammable read only memory unit (15), or EEPROM, wherein anidentification code is stored, a contactless interface (16) that,exploiting power of the signal received from the resonant circuit (14),acts as power supply for the transponder (5), provides the clock signal,and operates as a signal modulator and demodulator, and a unit (17) forcontrolling the access to the EEPROM unit (15), in order to carry outthe reading and/or writing operations of the latter.
 14. Safetyaccording to claim 13, characterised in that the EEPROM unit (15) has acapacity of 128 byte.
 15. Safety according to anyone of the precedingclaims, characterised in that each transponder (5) is inserted in a ringor in a glove.
 16. Safety according to anyone of the preceding claims,characterised in that said base electronic unit is adapted to store morethan one authorised identification code.
 17. Safety according to claim16, characterised in that the base electronic unit is able to cancel allthe stored identification codes.
 18. Safety according to claim 16,characterised in that it provides a programming transponder able totransmit a special programming code which lets the base electronic unitbe in stand-by condition waiting for receiving a new identification codeto be stored.
 19. Safety according to claim 17, characterised in that itprovides a cancellation transponder able to transmit a specialcancellation code causing the cancellation of all identification codesstored in the base electronic unit.
 20. Safety according to claim 16 or17, characterised in that it provides one or more microswitches. 21.Safety according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in thatthe base electronic unit is further provided with a power switch. 22.Safety according to claim 21, characterised in that, when a transponder(5) transmitting an authorised identification code is within thetransmission range of the base electronic unit, the safety mechanicaldevice is released and the power switch is turned off, the control andprocessing central unit prevents the turning off of the base electronicunit until said transponder (5) does not exit from the transmissionrange of the base unit and the electromechanical transducer (2) does notreinstate the safety mechanical device.
 23. Safety according to anyoneof the preceding claims, characterised in that the control andprocessing central unit comprises a microprocessor.
 24. Weapon (1)providing an electromechanical safety according to any one of thepreceding claims 1-23.